The Salem Regional Public Transportation Commission, known as the Cheriots, will hear the results of the state Legislature's lobbying efforts and consider contracts for internet and software upgrades.
The board will meet on Thursday, March 28th. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in person at the Senate hearing room in Courthouse Square, 555 Court Street, Nebraska, and will be livestreamed by Capital Community Media.
The public is invited to comment in person during the meeting, via Zoom, or by submitting written comments by email or mail. Comments are limited to 3 minutes and can be anything related to the message board.
Written public comments will be accepted until Thursday at 5 p.m. [email protected]or mail to: Cheriots Board, 555 Court St. NE, Suite 5230, Salem, OR 97301.
Read it: agenda
Latest information on state bills
The board will hear a report on the lobbying team's efforts during the 2024 legislative session, which recently concluded and included funding for several projects in Salem.
According to a CFM Advocates presentation, most of the Cheriots' priority bills failed to pass.
The bill Cheriots supported, SB 1553, was passed to increase penalties for drug use on buses. The drug use is classified as obstruction of public transportation, a Class A misdemeanor, which also includes access to state-funded treatment.
“While legislators generally addressed this issue with changes to implement (Measure 110), legislative leadership recognized that transit agencies face unique challenges with drug use and that another amendment is needed.” “I thought that was the case,” the report said.
HB 4072, a payment-in-lieu-of-tax bill, did not pass during the session and would have required the state to pay Salem in lieu of taxes for the use of real estate and emergency services.
A long-anticipated study on building a commuter rail link between Salem, Wilsonville, Beaverton and Portland was submitted to the Joint Committee on Revenue, but was not funded. The Cheriots will consider funding opportunities in the state's 2025 transportation policy.
A bill to establish a special committee to study the laws and uses of electric bicycles, scooters, and skateboards also failed to escape the means and means.
Internet at Cheriots facility
The board will consider whether to approve a $303,000, five-year contract with Comcast Business for internet connectivity at the Courthouse Square, Del Webb and Kaiser Transit Center facilities. That funding would come from this year's General Fund budget.
Cheriots has had a contract with Comcast since 2016, but the new contract requires increased internet bandwidth to meet demand, IT manager and deputy general manager Ross Aguilar said in a staff report.
software contract
The board will consider a three-year, $162,500 contract with Qcera for software to manage family medical leave. The district solicited contracts in October, and the cost is included in the general fund budget.
Without this, human resources professionals will continue to process leave manually using spreadsheets, data tables and calendar systems, Chief Human Resources Officer Jael Rose said in a staff memo.
Updated service delivery plan for elderly, disabled, and low-income passengers
Board members will consider accepting updates to the agency's coordination plan aimed at meeting the transportation needs of seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income people. This plan will prioritize coordination and investments with local providers.
The current plan was adopted in 2016 and underwent minor updates in 2019. Must be renewed every five years to meet federal funding requirements.
The update, which began in February 2023, included demographic and market analysis, research on local transportation and human services providers, and public support through a survey and five in-person workshops.
Among the priorities cited are improving connectivity between the region and Salem, Keizer and Portland, updating fleets and creating on-demand services like taking people from their homes to medical appointments. This includes providing.
Contact reporter Abby McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251
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Abby McDonald joined Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as a business reporter for The Astorian, covering labor issues, health care and social services. A graduate of the University of Oregon, she has also reported for Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review, and Willamette Week.
